Question

What relationship exists between igneous rock textures and the rate of cooling?

a) Igneous rock textures are not influenced by cooling rates.
b) Faster cooling results in fine-grained textures, while slower cooling leads to coarse-grained textures.
c) Slow cooling results in fine-grained textures, while faster cooling leads to coarse-grained textures.
d) The rate of cooling has no effect on igneous rock textures.

Answer 1

The rate of cooling affects the texture of igneous rocks. Faster cooling leads to fine-grained textures, while slower cooling results in coarse-grained textures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of cooling has a significant effect on the texture of igneous rocks. Faster cooling leads to fine-grained textures, while slower cooling results in coarse-grained textures.

Extrusive igneous rocks, which cool quickly on the Earth's surface, have small grains or lack of crystal growth. On the other hand, intrusive igneous rocks, formed from magma that cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface, have larger mineral grains.